MBL tackles broken marriages with ‘Khalidwe’

When love starts losing its spark, Monnah Billy Lungu, popularly known as MBL, wants couples to take a closer look at one thing that could be driving them apart: their behaviour.

The emerging Malawian musician, who is based in the United Kingdom, explores the cracks that can quietly grow into broken marriages in his latest song, “Khalidwe,” turning a serious relationship issue into a relatable musical message.

The song tells the story of a married couple whose relationship is affected by the husband’s behaviour, particularly his gambling, drinking and failure to spend enough time with his wife.

MBL said the idea for the song was inspired by a movie he watched about a newly married man whose lifestyle gradually put his marriage under pressure.

“I watched a movie where a newly married guy always gambled, drank and was never home for his wife. But when he was home, he was a really good guy and would do anything for his wife,” he said.

In the story, the man’s wife eventually walks away from the marriage without informing him beforehand. This prompted MBL to reflect on how couples handle challenges within relationships.

Although the story presented in “Khalidwe” is fictional, MBL said he has come across similar situations in real life where couples struggle with issues that could potentially be addressed through communication.

The musician believes couples should be more open about their problems and make efforts to find solutions before deciding to end their relationships.

MBL also encouraged people planning to get married to take time to understand their partners during courtship, saying some differences are better identified and addressed before marriage.

He explained that the title “Khalidwe,” which means behaviour, was chosen because the husband’s conduct is at the centre of the relationship’s problems.

The song represents a departure from MBL’s earlier music, which he describes as largely positive love songs focusing on couples showing affection and appreciating one another.

“With Khalidwe, I can say it is negative love. It mixes love and the way of life people live these days, which we see almost every day,” he said.

MBL hopes the song will encourage couples to communicate openly, understand each other and address challenges in their relationships before choosing to walk away.